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The Vatican has begun to build a “zero-cost” Nativity scene in St Peter’s
Square to celebrate Christmas in tune with the prevailing mood of austerity.

For the first time, this year’s Nativity — a major tourist attraction — is
being paid for entirely by a sponsor. The decision comes after the
“Vati-leaks” scandal in which the Pope’s butler was convicted of leaking
papal papers about fraud and abuse in the Catholic Church.

One of those letters claimed that the Vatican Governorate, which runs the
city-state, paid a supplier €550,000 (£444,000) for the Nativity scene in
2009.